Mandocello plan/advice

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Pappy Green
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Mandocello plan/advice

Post by Pappy Green » Tue May 27, 2014 1:07 pm

Hi,

I am planning to build a mandocello based on a standard size classical body shape with a scale length of around 25inch. I am unsure which bracing pattern to use that would serve me best in such a low register and I am unabe to find a plan anywhere. I have built an octave mandolin in an O size guitar body and used the X/lattice bracing pattern as recomended by Grahmam MacDonald for bouzouki. It worked a treat (thanks Graham).
Mandocello string gauge is 0.070, 0.046, 0.032, 0.020 (from e-Mando)

Should I use the X/lattice or regular guitar style bracing?
Will the body and scale length be adequate for such a low register?
Any other advice would be welcome (including the location of a plan if anyone knows of one).

much obliged

Brett

Kev3
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Re: Mandocello plan/advice

Post by Kev3 » Tue May 27, 2014 3:07 pm

Hi Brett
No nothing about these myself - but you got me interested enough to have a look around. You're right, not much in the way of actual plans. Most talk is around A and F style instruments. This guy gives some overall dimensions in a table for the whole family:
http://smart-instruments.com/amluth95.html

And discussions here suggest a 25" scale may be a bit short for clear notes on the heavy guaged C string:
http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/showt ... asurements

Hope you have more luck - love to see it and hear it when it's done :D

Cheers
...............
Kevin

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Mark McLean
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Location: Sydney

Re: Mandocello plan/advice

Post by Mark McLean » Tue May 27, 2014 10:10 pm

Nigel Forster makes some guitar bouzoukis, 8 strings, with X-bracing and similar scale length to what you are considering. I imagine that many of the design principles would be applicable to a mandocello? Check out his website, or you could PM him for a bit more of a lowdown on his approach.

KLW
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Location: Wet Coast Canada

Re: Mandocello plan/advice

Post by KLW » Wed May 28, 2014 4:12 am

I've mad a mandocello based on a Gibson LO body shape but with fan frets to solve the C string issues and 14 frets to the body..

I used a x brace pattern modified to fit the fanned frets and get bridge angle.. turned out quite good IMHO..

Some pics attached best I have of the bracing.. Scale was 24.75 treble and 26.25 bass with the 6th fret parallel..
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P1010141 (Small).JPG (77.78 KiB) Viewed 9547 times
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Attachments
P1010548 (Small).JPG
KLW Strings Luthier Blog...
http://klwstrings.blogspot.ca/

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sebastiaan56
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Re: Mandocello plan/advice

Post by sebastiaan56 » Wed May 28, 2014 10:56 am

It is not uncommon for guitars to be converted to Mandocellos by drilling a couple of extra tuner holes and replacing the saddle and nut. There are a few on the Mandolin Cafe along with some people who do it regularly. If you go with a archtop type tailpiece it gets even easier. Graham MacDonald will have some know how in the details of all of this.
make mine fifths........

Pappy Green
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Re: Mandocello plan/advice

Post by Pappy Green » Sat May 31, 2014 6:29 pm

I am much obliged for the advice. I think I will go with standard guitar style bracing.

Kerry how does the small body handle the low C?

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